Ingredient Review

The first ingredient is turkey broth. Turkey broth provides both flavor and moisture; however, as with other broths, turkey broth does not provide any notable nutritional contribution.

The second ingredient is turkey. Although turkey is an excellent protein source, raw turkey contains more than 60% moisture. After cooking, the relative meat contribution of turkey is dramatically reduced. Therefore, it's important to ensure that other meat sources are included within the first few ingredients to ensure the product derives most of its protein from meat.

The third ingredient is salmon. Salmon is another excellent protein and omega-3 fatty acid source. As with other raw meats, salmon contains a substantial amount of moisture and therefore the relative meat contribution of salmon is dramatically reduced after cooking.

The fourth ingredient is chicken, which is an excellent source of protein and fat.

The fifth ingredient is chicken liver. Chicken liver is an excellent organ meat which provides high quality protein and fat. In addition, chicken liver provides many essential vitamins and minerals.

Because ingredients are listed in order of pre-cooked weight, the remaining ingredients in Natural Balance Platefulls Indoor Formula - Turkey, Salmon & Chicken Formula In Gravy are not as important as the first five ingredients.

However, collectively they still have a significant impact on the overall quality of the product. Therefore, we'll continue discussing the remaining ingredients in this Natural Balance recipe.

Next we have dried egg whites. Dried egg whites consist of shell-free egg whites, which are easy to digest and contain high quality protein. Egg protein is often given the highest biological value (BV). The BV metric measures the usability of the ingredient's protein.

The next ingredient is pea. Peas are starchy members of the legume family. Other than carbohydrates, peas are notably high in plant based protein and various vitamins and minerals.

Then we have carrot, which are naturally rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant.

Moving on, we have potato. Potatoes provide a notable amount of dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. In addition, potatoes are gluten free and therefore commonly found in grain free and gluten free products.

Moving on with this review, we have potato starch. Potato starch is a gluten-free ingredient extracted from potatoes. Unlike whole potatoes, the starch itself does not provide a notable amount of nutrition.

The next ingredient in this review is natural flavor, which is likely included to improve palatability.

Our next ingredient is guar gum. Guar gum (or guaran) is obtained from guar beans which have been dehusked, milled and screened. It's commonly used in wet food products as a thickening agent and provides a notable amount of dietary fiber.

sodium phosphate is the next ingredient in this recipe. Sodium phosphate is a generic term used for salts of sodium and phosphate. It is most likely used as a emulsifier, thickening agent, or leavening agent.

Next on the list is alfalfa meal. Alfalfa meal is produced from the alfalfa flowering plant. it's rich in plant based protein, dietary fiber, and various vitamins and minerals.

The next ingredient in this recipe is dried beet pulp. Dried beet pulp is the by-product which remains once sugar has been extracted from sugar beets. The primary contribution of beet pulp is dietary fiber.

We'd also like to note that beet pulp is fairly controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that beet pulp can promote intestinal health and regulate blood sugar. However, opponents claim that beet pulp is an inexpensive filler.

Next we have salmon oil. Salmon oil is an outstanding source of omega-3 fatty acids, an important part of a cat diet.

The next ingredient is ground flaxseed. Ground flaxseeds are an outstanding source of omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber. They also provide a notable amount of protein, B vitamins, and various minerals.

Then we have potassium chloride. Potassium chloride is a potassium supplement.

The remaining ingredients in this Natural Balance Platefulls recipe are unlikely to affect the overall rating of the product.

Our analysis of the ingredients show that this product derives most of its protein from animal based sources. This is an excellent property because meat based protein contains all of the necessary amino acids required by cats. In our option, this is one of the most important properties to judge when reviewing pet food, therefore we believe this is an exceptional product in this regard.

Final Thoughts

In summary, we recognize that this product does not contain any artificial colors, artificial preservatives, or anonymous meat ingredients.

The official PawDiet rating for Natural Balance Platefulls Indoor Formula - Turkey, Salmon & Chicken Formula In Gravy is 3.0 out of 5.